ONE MORE CLEAR DAY.

Auckland Star, Volume XLIV, Issue 187, 7 August 1913, Page 5

ONE MORE CLEAR DAY.

—.— EPIDEMIC STILL INACTIVE. CITY AND SUBURBS IMMUNE. FEWER CASES IN THE COUNTRY. Another day has passed without any new cases being added to the epidemic tally for Auckland and suburbs. The District Health Officer made an intimation to this effect to-day, and in doing so, remarked that the disease fortunately appeared to be diminishing. He added, however, that the public would be unwise to take premature assurance if it would have the effect of making them lose Bight of the -value of vaccination. He ease of the European youth who developed the disease while being treated at the Auckland Hospital for abdominal trouble is sfcitl being kept ha tie observation wards at that institution. Dr. Ardath, who is acting medical superintendent' in the absence of Dr. Magurro on leave, stated to-day that the patient would probably be removed to the Isolation Hospital, where 60 cases are under treatment. The number of chicken-pox patients at the Auckland Hospital has sunk to a minimum, there being now only three, all of them Europeans. Only one new case has been reported from a country district (Otorolianga), but an amplified report concerning the outbreaks at Kaihu and Kairara, near Dargavillc, shows that the disease is much more widespread than was indicated in telegrams from those centres. The Department's inspectors have arranged for tbo proper treatment/ of the many natives affected in that district. Kairara is a gum-diggmg district, and settlement is scattered over a fairly wide area, hence the difficulty experienced in locating all tho coses. A telegram was received this afternoon stating that four new cases had been located at Poroti, about 17 miles from Whnngarci. B.M.A. RESOLUTIONS. "SMALLPOX IS EPIDEMIC." The Auckland division of the British Medical Association after discussing the epidemic at its monthly meeting last night passed the following resolutions:— (1) "At the meeting of the Auckland division of the British Medical Association of August 0 it -was unanimously agreed that smallpox is at present epidemic in the community;" (2) "That the most effectivo means of combating and eradicating the disease lay in universal vaccination." ISLAND TRAFFIC AFFECTED. Tho epidemics in Sydney and Auckland have had the effect of seriously disorganising the pacsongcr'traffic to Tonga, Samoa, and Fiji. Passengers from the affected area arc prevented from'landing at any of those islands unless they go into quarantine for a certain period, with the result that traffic has fallen nwny considerably. Tho quarantine restrictions will not be lifted so far as Sydney and Auckland passengers aro concerned until these eitiesj hnve been declared free from the disease. OUTBREAK NEAR WHANGARST. NATIVE SCHOOL CLOSED. (By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent) WHANGAREI, this day. It is reported that several fresh cases of tho prevailing malady have occurred among Maoris at Tokihiwai, Whangarei Harbour. In consequence of tht3 the native school has had to be closed. It is also reported that fresh cases have occurred at Oponga, but only meagre details are to hand. CASS NEAR TAURANGA. NATIVE SETTLEMENT .ISOLATED. (Ry Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.) TAURANGA, this day. Another epidemic case was reported yesterday. The patient is a Maori at Matapihi, a native settlement across the harbour. Tho settscment has been isolated. THE SYDNEY EPIDEMIC. SERIOUS EFFECT ON BUSINESS. SANITATION BEFORE VACCINATION (Dy Telegraph.—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, Wednesday. Some exceedingly interesting observations were made by Mr. C. J. Parr during liis Australian visit relative to tbo smallpox epidemic there, and the precautions being taken by the authorities to cope with the situation. " Tho smallpox scare in Sydney," he remarked, "is affecting the community very seriously. Everything is upset through it, and business is greatly dislocated, the commercial community having been hit with particular seventy. In the ordinary course of things Sydney is teoming with visitors at this time of the year, whereas it is now practically empty. Tourists and country people arc giving a wide berth to the quarantine area, which encloses a radius of fifteen miles from the G.P.O. On the Brisbane-Sydney express, upon which I travelled, there were 29 passengers, instead of tho average of 150, The manager of a big suburban drapery business assured mc that last week their takings were £300 less than the corresponding week lost year. The big stores in George Street are practically empty in what is usually the busiest season of the year. " As for the vaccination, it is going on every day. Four doctors are kept hard at it in the Town Hall, but the opinion met there is that a good many of the doctors have been altogether too careless in their methods, and the excessive use of lymph, tho consequence being that the suffering of a great many people has been simply shocking. Correspondents to the Press describes tho operation as being, in numerous instances, simply savagery. On the other hand, all manner of trouble is being contracted through tho carelessness of vaccines leading to blood poisoning. It would, in short, be strange if the vaccination of over 300,000 people of all sorts and conditions, and in all degrees of health, did not result in some serious cases. The only way of keeping the people immune is to have tho whole population vaccinated. This is tho opinion of practically tho whole medical profession in Sydney. "A rather remarkable feature about the Svdncy epidemic," Mr. Parr went on ,to is;, "is that the disease is mainly

confined to the congested and slum areas, • North Sydney and the far-out suburbi aro almost immune, but in crowded areas like Wavcrloy, Surry Hills, ( and Paddington the disease is raging •„ badly. Tho lesson is obvious. Smallpox flourishes where insanitary conditions exist. If the community is to keep freo , from disease, hygiene and sanitation ' must receive first attention. Wholesome sanitary conditions are even more necessary than vaccination; indeed they render vaccination unnecessary," VACCINATION TROUBLES. , The uncomfortable and even serious , results following vaccination in Auckh.cd _ were brought under the notice of the t Minister of Public Ileal it by Mr. L. M. _ Iditt, who questioned whether tho lymph had been suitable. The Teply of the l Hon H. H. Rhodes (Minister of Pubs lie Health) was that tho lymph is made and tested by the most modern methods. I During the month of July alone more than 200,000 doses were issued, and the , reports received by the Department from , those vaccinators who have used the ! lymph show *hat the vast majority are . quite satisfied with it, and that there . have been very few complaints.